Fluid pressure regulator structure



Nov. 24, 1953 c, wELTY ET AL 2,660,187

FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR STRUCTURE Filed March 29, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR5. .Ckar/es We/ Geo/ye L. flaw/77w? BY a 40" .72

30 qrrokw 'NOV. 24, 1953 c WELTY ET L 2,660,187

'FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR STRUCTURE Filed March 29, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIII|IHIIIIIIIHIHV\ llllllllxllllll'nln A are A. #4 mm BY ATTORNE Patented Nov. 24, 1953 TENT ' STATS 2",660487 Fmib meet-ms REGULA'EOF'R sweeten Gilarljes W yn Kansas l uiildt iir l 1. H mmommmnd i i8 Qr$. P tan Compressed. Gas Corporation, Kansas City,"

M61, a corporation" of Missoi'l'i'i Applicatioli March-29, 1956, Serial No: 152,601 i Cia'iiiil (c1. l'fi'i si) -i'i vei pfi e te 65 fie d oipre on wr m ntsand ar imla ly w th s dev c 2 11 91 12 2 9 29 911 h m d l fiel endehas pui'bose of dam ing the" diaphragmrigidly iii place? r I Anothefimportantobj ect of the present inventioh i's tb pr'ovide afiiiid pressure regul-ator'hav ing diaphragm hold-h1g mans'as ust alcoveset L safety feature i'ntfiriature d iiaipl i-if 'a 'm a d disposed bettten'the'sdrews'aiitif mere-with the qne" foifhi of the p' semi v same operably' coupled with k-1 H Fig. 2

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ferredfqrm of thisinventipnis ilhgstyated in 9 n us enancl i b p sl de n t ehmfi i reset??? we haaiee meeeel mpm l 0-1; ya lv e 'j 4' connected dizjectlytl lerewith and owlth clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. A cupshaped cap 30 is threadably joined with the body I8 in telescoping relationship thereto for movement toward and from the shoulder 26 and diaphragm 28 and carries an external adjusting member 32 for regulating the tension of a spring 34 within cap 30.

A pair of blocks 36 and 38 within cap 30 are disposed on opposite sides of the coil spring 34, the block 36 being threadably secured to the diaphragm 28 and including an out-turned flange 40 having a diameter less than that of the diaphragm 28. The block 38 is likewise provided with an out-turned flange for receiving the proximal end of spring 34, together with a centrally disposed seat (not shown) for receiving rotatable point 42 of adjusting member 32.

Cap 30 is provided with an annular internal shoulder 44 spaced from that wall thereof having adjusting member 32 thereon presenting an annular passageway 46. An annular ring 48 cut away as at 50 to clear flange 40 is interposed within cap 38 between diaphragm 28 and shoulder 44. A plurality of fixtures taking the form of setscrews 52, are threadably carried by the shoulder 44 and arranged in a circle as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The setscrews or fixtures 52 are all provided with polygonal cavities 54 in the outermost ends thereof in direct alignment with the ring 48 and with openings 56 provided in that Wall of cap 30 having member 32 thereon for each screw 52 respectively. Openings 56 are formed to serve as a guide for an L-shaped tool 58 that is formed in cross-section in conformity with the cavities 54.

In assembling the pressure regulator just described, the screws 52 are all first retracted toward the openings 56 through use of tool 58 and the cap 30 is mounted upon the body I8 with diaphragm 28, ring 48, spring 34 and block 38 mounted therewithin. After the cap 30 has been rotated to move the same on body I8 to a position where shoulder 44 is adjacent ring 48, screws 52 are moved against the ring 48 by use or tool 58. Such action brings the ring 48 into tight engagement with the diaphragm 28 and clamps the latter securely between ring 48 and shoulder 28. Inasmuch as openings 56 are smaller in diameter than the diameters of screws 52 whereby the same function to guide the tool 58, setscrews 52 are initially inserted into the shoulder 48 from the open end of cap 30. In the event that diaphragm 28 breaks or otherwise becomes damaged so as to permit passage of fluid into cap 38, such escaping fluid is free to flow outwardly through flange 44 and around spring 34 into annular passage 46 and thence outwardly to the atmosphere by way of the plurality of openings 56. It is seen that when the diaphragm 28 is thus clamped in place, the manual adjusting means 32 can be manipulated to vary the tension of spring 34 and thereby regulate the pressure of oxygen emanating from tank I2 in the usual manner. Cap 30 may be initially moved into place on body I6 by hand and without the use of any tools whatsoever, since tightening of the screws 52 will hold diaphragm 28 tightly in place and a relatively great amount of pressure can be brought to bear upon the ring 48 by use of the relatively small tool 58.

The modification illustrated in Figs. to 8 inclusive, is essentially the same as that just above described and includes a hollow body I00,

4 a diaphragm I02 mounted upon shoulder I04 of body I00, a relatively wide, circular ring I06 and a cup-like cap I08.

Cap I08 is threadably secured to the body I00 in housing relationship to diaphragm I02 and ring I06. Cap I08 is provided with a wall IIO for threadably receiving a plurality of fixtures II2, also taking the form of setscrews, and movable toward and away from the diaphragm I02.

Setscrews I I2 are each provided with polygonal cavities H4 in the outermost ends thereof for receiving a tool such as illustrated in Fig. 3 and designated by the numeral 58. It is noted in the modification of Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, that the setscrews II2 bear directly against one edge of the ring I06 for forcing the opposite edge thereof into contact with the diaphragm I02 and for holding the latter clamped tightly against the annular shoulder I04.

A plurality of angularly disposed openings H6 are formed in the Wall H0 of cap I88 and communicate directly with the interior of ring I06 and with diaphragm I02 for evacuating cap I88 of pressurized fluid that may escape thereinto vby virtue of breakage of diaphragm I02.

In assembling the pressure regulator of this modification, setscrews II2 are first retracted outwardly and the cap I08 is placed upon the a body I00 with ring I06 contained therein. Cap

I08 is first rotated manually to move wall IIO toward the diaphragm I02 until the ring I06 comes into relatively tight engagement with the diaphragm I02. Setscrews II2 are thereupon moved against the ring I86 to force the same still tighter against diaphragm I02 and to clamp the latter tightly between shoulder I84 and the proximal circular edge of ring I06. Here again, only a relatively small tool is needed to rigidly secure the diaphragm I02 in place and it is not necessary to use a large, heavy cumbersome tool for rotating the cap I08 as is customary in pressure regulators of conventional character.

In either of the modifications of this invention, assembling and disassembling can be accomplished quickly and easily by any user without skill and without the need of special equipment. Caps 38 and I08 in each case are maintained in their precisely formed original condition since the same cannot become damaged through mere manipulation thereof by hand. Furthermore, it has been found that through use of the fixtures herein provided, the diaphragms can be clamped in place as effectively as has heretofore been the practice, and in fact, a tighter clamping effect can be produced. Utilization of such fixtures eliminates the difliculty of attempting to clamp the diaphragm in place by rotation of the cap structure alone arising from the friction between the rotating cap and the diaphragm against which the same must rotate until the latter is fully secured in place.

It can now also be appreciated that the form of the present invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, is to be preferred because of the fact that the setscrews 52 are all hidden from view, and further, by virtue of the access openings 56 serving not only the function of guiding the tool 58, but of evacuating the cap 38 in the event of leakage through diaphragm 28.

Another modification constitutes a change in the form of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and is deemed sufficiently clear to obviate the necessity of illustration. Such change constitutes elimination of shoulder 44 and threading longer screws 52 into the ring 48. Ring 48 would thereupon be forced against diaphragm 28 by retracting screws 52 until the same become tightly wedged between ring 48 and that wall of cap 30 having openings 56 therein. In order to still utilize openings 56 as a safety factor in evacuating escaping fluids from diaphragm 23 in the event the latter became broken, transverse slots could be provided in that end of the screws 52 having cavities 54 therein.

This last mentioned form, as well as the form of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, are additionally to be preferred over that of Figs. 5 to 6 inclusive because of the fact that all separate parts are, confined within cap 32 and reduces the likelihood of loss or misplacement. In other words, it is possible to lose screws H2 (Fig. 7) but screws 52 cannot move outwardly through openings 56 and are always confined within cap 30.

The pressure regulator structure hereof is manifestly subject to still further changes and modifications and those that fairly come within the spirit of this invention as defined by the scope of the appended claim, are accordingly contemplated hereby.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A fluid pressure regulator for controlling the flow of oxygen from a source of supply to a discharge line, said regulator comprising the combination of a hollow, cup-shaped body having external threads on the annular side wall, and openings formed through the side wall through which openings the interior of the body is placed into communication with a source of oxygen supply, a flow-meter, a gauge and an outlet nozzle respectively; a flexible diaphragm covering the open end of said cup-shaped body and having a flanged, marginal edge thereon and overhanging the edge of said body; a ring bearing against said diaphragm and formed to engage that portion thereof overlying the edge of said body; an internally threaded, cup-shaped cap in telescoped relation with the cup-shaped body with the screw threads of said body and said cap in interengagement, said cup-shaped cap having an inwardly directed annular flange spaced from the end wall thereof, the length of the interengaged threads of the body and the cap being great enough to permit moving the said flange against the ring to exert holding force upon that part of the diaphragm disposed between the ring and the edge of said cup-shaped body; a plurality of threaded openings formed through the flange; a threaded setscrew mounted in each opening of said flange respectively and movable by turning inone direction against the ring, whereby to supplement the pressure of the flange of the cap on the diaphragm in holding the latter in place; a series of openings in said cap, in alignment with said setscrews respectively and in communication with the interior of the cap whereby to permit escape of oxygen in event the said diaphragm breaks; and manually adjustable means carried by the end wall of the cap for holding the central portion of the diaphragm in the desired position when the annular flange is against said ring.

CHARLES H. WELTY. GEORGE L. HAMMON.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,064,714 Deegan June 17, 1913 1,097,595 Roehrich May 19, 1914 1,626,673 Farmer May 3, 1927 2,270,259 Burke Jan. 20, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 297,216 Great Britain of 1928 

